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Gov. Pat McCrory headed to Washington D.C. this week to represent the National Governors Association before a U.S. House transportation committee. You’ll hear the governors remarks about North Carolina’s transportation reforms and why he and other governors are seeking a full partnership between the federal government and the states when it comes to interconnectivity of states and cities. The governor’s trip to Washington followed on the heels of a major victory in the courts. This week a 3-judge panel ruled unanimously in favor of the governor and against the General Assembly over the issue of separation of powers between the two branches of government. Host Donna Martinez talks with Catawba College political science professor Dr. Michael Bitzer about the importance of the ruling and the political dynamic at play between the executive and legislative branches. Bitzer also weighs in on the challenge facing state Democrats as they head into the 2016 political cycle with a new chairwoman on board but few options for gaining power in the legislator or U.S. Congress. Next is a look at Democratic Party efforts to roll back election reforms passed by the General Assembly. Martinez talks about two proposals from Minority Leader Larry Hall of Durham with Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson. The two also discuss new developments in the investigation of spending by Dana Cope, former head of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC), as well as a 2016 primary challenge for 3rd District Congressman Walter Jones. And finally, Martinez and Henderson discuss the guilty verdict in the murder trial of Jonathan Broyhill, who was found guilty of killing Democratic political fundraiser Jamie Hahn.